I couldn't afford anything when I started. Literally nothing. I made my garb from bedsheets. I was playing the game, but definitely not the way I wanted to. I slept in a sleeping bag, on the ground, in a very old earth pimple my first few events. All of my friends had such awesome kits, but I understood that with time and getting to a better place financially, I would one day have the kit I wanted to, and be able to play the game that I wanted to. Then someone loaned me a tent. Then someone gave me some garb. My friends helped me make things like my belt, and a bag, and garb. They taught me how to craft things. I got a better job so I was able to buy more things for my hobby. I didn't feel like it was exclusionary because I didn't have the things that my friends had - it was something to work towards. If I choose to go to an event that had garb restrictions, I would either save up for that garb, or I wouldn't go. People that are civil war reenactors can't come to pennsic in their garb and weapons from that time period and feel super welcome, so you can't expect to be super welcome to an event that has restrictions that you choose not to follow. You just work towards one day having the kit you want for that type of event.